Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning director briefs council on Riverview kennel amendment, 68-townhouse rezoning and entertainment permits
Summary
Planning Director Bobby Tahan presented several planning items: a zoning amendment to allow kennels in the Riverview overlay, a conditional rezoning and conditional use permit for 68 townhouse-style condominium units at 6303 Granby Street (planning commission recommended approval 7–0), and conditional-use items for two restaurant/entertainment operations including agreed hour limits for outdoor activities.
At a Norfolk City Council work session, Director of Planning Bobby Tahan briefed council on multiple land-use proposals and planning commission recommendations.
Tahan said the planning commission recommends a zoning text amendment requested by the Riverview Business Association to permit kennels by conditional use in the pedestrian commercial overlay that applies to the Riverview business area. The commission recommended approval by a 7–0 vote.
Tahan then presented a conditional rezoning and conditional use permit application from Stanley Martin Homes LLC for 68 townhouse-style condominium units at 6303 Granby Street on the former DePaul Hospital site. The presentation included conceptual layouts, five amenity areas labeled A–E and proposed exterior-material conditions (brick and fiber-cement siding). Tahan said the rezoning and conditional use are consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan and that the planning commission recommended approval by a 7–0 vote.
Several council members expressed surprise at the density and asked what changed from earlier community presentations, whether the rezoning would increase traffic on Kingsley Lane and how the development might affect school-aged children in the area given the school system’s review of Granby Elementary. Tahan replied that the rezoning applies only to the Granby Street portion of the site and does not alter the Next Steps to Success property; staff said traffic impacts were reviewed in conjunction with bicycle-lane changes and that transportation staff are also reviewing signal timing at the Kingsley Lane intersection.
Tahan also reviewed conditional use items. Nellie’s Prime & Grind is seeking a conditional use permit for an existing commercial location on West 25th Street with outdoor live entertainment and alcohol on premise; the applicant proposes operating hours up to 2 a.m. on some nights with an overall seating capacity of 225. The planning commission recommended approval with a two-year expiration and noted shared parking availability. The operator of The Sanctuary is proposing a new location at 218–220 West 25th Street; following a resident complaint, the applicant agreed to a condition limiting outdoor entertainment and outdoor dining to 10 p.m., which staff included in the recommendation. Tahan noted a short-term rental conditional use application at 1442 West Ocean View Avenue that the planning commission recommended denying after the applicant accrued multiple violations for operating without the required permit.
Tahan stood by for council questions; councilors asked for clarity on traffic studies and school impacts and noted community concerns flagged in published commentary.
